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Saturday, 1 December 2018

Sokoto under Siege, Another Armed Group Resurfaced In Tangaza L.G.A As Buratai Charges Troops On Offensive Strategy

Tangaza local government in Sokoto state is under siege where another armed group apart from the known Boko-haram is reported by an online medium premium times to have resurfaced claiming tax levies on inhabitants enforcing strange laws and at the same time punishing defaulters.

Premium times also reported that members of the group is believed to be from Niger republic whose adjoining border status with Tangaza local government has a proximal advantage.

The report also stated that the group are in possession of assorted weapons, preaching Islamic teachings, forcefully, collecting alms (zakat) and flogging defaulters

It stated that though members of the terror group are yet to be identified by name, and have been in the area for than two months, they are allegedly recruiting youth in a nearby bush. After ‘training’ them, they give them a motorcycle, he said.

“The witness, who pleaded anonymity, said members of the group were more than 200. He said they looked strange, spoke Arabic and wore turbans over their heads”.

“They imposed compulsory levies on each household with cows and rams. Those with cows were paying N500 and those with ram paid N200,” he said. “They are arresting and fining herdsmen who encroach on farmlands and are keeping the money. “They are operating freely, scaring residents, without being challenged. They are going from one community to another,” the witness said.

Tangaza Local Government in Sokoto State borders the Niger Republic. The border communities of the two countries inter-marry and are identical and speak the same dialect. Sokoto State Police Commissioner, Murtala Mani, told the paper yesterday that he was on his way to the area and would call back later in the day.

Also, Sokoto police spokesperson, Cordelia Nwawe, said the police would address journalists as soon as her boss returned from the affected area. The spokesperson for the state government, Abubakar Shekara, confirmed the report but said he could not provide further comments.

Meanwhile, the chief of Army Staff (COAS)Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai has charged Battalion commanders@ the theatre of operation in Maiduguri regarding insurgency operation to be more offensive.

The COAS also ordered a thorough investigation of the discovery of militia camp at rivers state by a troop of 6 Division Nigeria Army, according to Nigeria Army twitter handle.

Buratai, who gave charge yesterday in Maiduguri at the conclusion of the Fourth Quarter Chief of Army Conference, said such decision was necessary to instil fear in the terrorists.

The Army chief warned troops not to be deterred by the recent setbacks, especially at Metele, where the Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops of 157 Task Force Battalion, killed 23 of them and wounded 31 others.“Operational commanders at all levels must show leadership and inculcate such virtue in subordinate commanders.

“The recent unfortunate incidents involving our troops have given me great concern and should concern all of us.“We have not focused on providing adequate force protection and our offensive posture has been below expectation,’’ the army chief said.

According to him, the development of ‘super camps’ and more emphasis on functioning logistics bases will give us a more deliberate approach to achieving force protection and reducing our delivery of needed logistics to units in the field.“However, this approach must be complemented by a robust offensive posture that will instil fear in the enemy camp and inject fresh fighting spirit in our troops.’’

He expressed satisfaction that the objectives of the three-day conference had been achieved without giving details but charged commanders to ensure that decisions reached were implemented.

The army chief used the opportunity to restate that the army would remain apolitical and non-partisan in the conduct of the 2019 general elections. He warned officers and soldiers to maintain peace in their areas of responsibilities and “shun the lure of politicians,” adding: “You are all expected to deal decisively with any individuals or groups, who may attempt to disrupt the 2019 general elections in line with our extant laws and rules of engagement.”

Buratai also said that in joint operations with non-military security agencies, field ranks must be given to deserving Senior Non-Commission Officers- SNCOs, noting that this is to ensure proper command and control in all operations where the army participates.